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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.3.1110.3.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 10.2.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथैनमस्तौदवधार्य पूरुषं

परं नताङ्ग: कृतधी: कृताञ्जलि: ।

स्वरोचिषा भारत सूतिकागृहं

विरोचयन्तं गतभी: प्रभाववित् ॥ १२ ॥

athainam astaud avadhārya pūruṣaṁ

paraṁ natāṅgaḥ kṛta-dhīḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ

sva-rociṣā bhārata sūtikā-gṛhaṁ

virocayantaṁ gata-bhīḥ prabhāva-vit

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, descendant of King Bharata, Vasudeva could understand that this child was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa. Having concluded this without a doubt, he became fearless. Bowing down with folded hands and concentrating his attention, he began to offer prayers to the child, who illuminated His birthplace by His natural influence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognizing the Lord, Vasudeva Becomes Fearless

  1. 1

    Vasudeva understood without doubt that the child was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.

  2. 2

    Understanding the Supreme Lord’s influence, Vasudeva became fearless. He knew that the Lord had appeared to give him protection.

  3. 3

    Vasudeva concentrated his attention on the Lord, bowed down and folded his hands. Recognizing the Lord’s presence, he appropriately began offering prayers.

Key points from the purport
  • Struck with such great wonder, Vasudeva now concentrated his attention on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Understanding the influence of the Supreme Lord, he was surely fearless, since he understood that the Lord had appeared to give him protection (gata-bhīḥ prabhāva-vit).
  • Understanding that the Supreme Personality of Godhead was present, he appropriately offered prayers as follows.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Terror → Wonder and relief. The threat of destruction yields to divine appearance.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 10: Threat from Kaṁsa and Kṛṣṇa's birth. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared with four hands, as if born from her womb. Upon seeing the Lord in that Viṣṇu form, Vasudeva was struck with wonder, and in transcendental happiness he and Devakī mentally gave ten thousand cows in charity to the brāhmaṇas.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathereafter
  2. enamto the child
  3. astautoffered prayers
  4. avadhāryaunderstanding surely that the child was the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. pūruṣamthe Supreme Person
  6. paramtranscendental
  7. nata-aṅgaḥfalling down
  8. kṛta-dhīḥwith concentrated attention
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “understand”, “understanding”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “child”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.3

    In this verse: “fearless”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can Vasudeva’s focused prayer guide my response when I feel afraid?

Practice

Fold your hands and offer a short prayer to the Supreme Lord with undivided attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognizing the Lord, Vasudeva Becomes FearlessThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.3.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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